Cathedral Village Arts Festival Issues Urgent Scam Alert to Potential Vendors
Organizers of the Cathedral Village Arts Festival (CVAF) in Regina are sounding the alarm about fraudulent individuals attempting to scam artists and vendors interested in participating in this year's popular street festival. With at least two confirmed victims already, festival officials are taking proactive measures to warn the community about these deceptive practices.
Fake Social Media Poster Targets Festival Participants
Paul Dechene, communications co-ordinator for the festival scheduled to run from May 18-23, revealed that a counterfeit poster recently circulated on social media platforms. This fraudulent advertisement directed interested vendors to contact an unofficial email address completely unaffiliated with the legitimate CVAF organization.
"It's really, really disappointing," Dechene told media representatives. "The people who were scammed are exactly the kind of people we want to reach, the people we want to have at the street fair."
How the Scam Unfolded
The victims became suspicious when the fraudster followed up their initial contact with requests for additional deposits to secure their vendor spaces. According to Dechene, both individuals contacted the festival office after already paying fees to the scammer's contact information.
Dechene discovered that the fake poster had been shared within a local community Facebook group specifically designed for newcomers to Saskatchewan. "That they would be taken advantage of is really terrible," he expressed regarding the victims' unfortunate experience.
Fortunately, the fraudulent post disappeared quickly after being flagged as a scam in the comments section. Despite the financial loss, the festival has committed to providing vendor tables for both affected individuals at no additional cost.
A Growing Problem for Community Events
This incident represents just the latest in a series of social media scams targeting the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. Dechene noted that fraudsters have attempted similar tactics on previous occasions, including last year when someone falsely claimed to be selling tables for the festival's fall rummage sale fundraiser.
"Most of the work done here is by people who are excited about the festival, out of the goodness of their hearts," Dechene explained. "We've always kept it a low-fi project, and now all of a sudden we have to be keeping track of AI scammers and people trying to take advantage. It just makes it harder to do something like this."
He emphasized that this troubling trend affects community festivals across Canada, presenting particular challenges for volunteer-run organizations like the CVAF. While the Regina Police Service hasn't yet received formal reports about this specific incident, festival organizers are encouraging anyone who encounters suspicious activity to contact authorities immediately.
Protecting Against Festival Scams
To help vendors and participants avoid falling victim to similar schemes, the Cathedral Village Arts Festival recommends:
- Always verify contact information through the official CVAF website or social media channels
- Be cautious of unsolicited communications requesting payment for festival participation
- Report any suspicious activity to festival organizers and local authorities
- Confirm registration details directly with the festival office before making any payments
The festival continues preparations for its spring event while implementing additional security measures to protect participants from fraudulent activities. Organizers remain committed to maintaining the community-focused spirit that has made the Cathedral Village Arts Festival a beloved Regina tradition for years.
